Relations between the United Kingdom and Spain over the British colony of Gibraltar are at their worst for some time.

The Spanish Government issued a formal protest to the British ambassador in Madrid on Thursday over the treatment of Spanish fishermen by police in the waters around Gibraltar.

Spain set a 72-hour deadline which expired at 1700GMT on Saturday, calling on Britain to clarify its position over the colony.

The protest was also conveyed to the European Union.

Fishermen protest

Gibraltar is a sticking-point in relations between London and Madrid

Local politicians joined hundreds of fishermen who on Friday blocked the main road into and out of Gibraltar. The protesters allowed Spanish workers to leave, but blocked any other movement.

Hundreds of residents gathered on the Gibraltar side of the border and insults were hurled back and forth across the frontier.

Spanish fishermen and their government say that police in Gibraltar are not abiding by a verbal agreement reached last year between the Spanish Foreign Minister, Abel Matutes, and his UK counterpart, Robin Cook.

The British Foreign Office issued a statement on Friday saying it remained committed to restoring the harmony that prevailed in the region up until 1997. It added that there could be no justification for demonstrators obstructing travellers at the border.